Video card recommendation

[Diane K]

Can someone recommend a specific video card for me? My system is running
Vista Ultimate OK except I can't get Aero without updating my video card.
Dell tells me my video card is built into the motherboard and I don't have
any AGP slots available so I guess I need a PCI card.

I've been told I need to disable the video card on my motherboard when I
install the PCI card. Is that correct? If so, how do I do that? I'm sorry to
sound so dumb, but I'm really a novice on the graphics end of things.

TIA

 

[Shaun]

Hi,

Do you have a PCI express slot? What motherboard do you have?

Shaun

 

[Saucy Lemon]

That's done in the BIOS. Get out the mobo manual. Usualy one hits Del as the
computer first boots to get into the BIOS. Watch the screen carefully for
clues.

I don't recommend any video card .. but there's a lot of reviews out there:

e.g. Tom's Hardware, watch the URL wrap:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/05/the_best_gaming_video_cards_for_the_money/index.html

Saucy Lemon

 

[Diane K]

Shaun, how do I tell if it's a PCI express slot? How do I find out what
motherboard?

 

[Guilbert]

Dell do not make it easy for you to fit a graphics cards as on their cheaper
modesl they use a specially built motherboard with no graphics slot.

The modern graphics technology is PCI Express but you probably dont have one
of those slots

Older is APG but you say you do not have one of those slots either.

Then the really old is PCI (note PCI is not the same as PCI Express)

I am not a graphics card expert but I am not sure you will be able to get a
PCI card capable of running aero.

May be wrong though.

 

[FKS]

Shaun, how do I tell if it's a PCI express slot?

If you cannot tell a PCI-e slot from a PCI slot, you shouldn't try to
upgrade the graphic card yourself. Besides, since your Dell came with a
graphic card built into the motherboard, it probably doesn't have a PCI-e
slot.

 

[Guilbert]

As I said, I am not graphics expert, but I have just has a look on a few of
the web sites where you can buy PCI graphics cards (not PCI express)

One was scan.co.uk for example

They do still sell PCI cards but they mostly had 64Mb and 128Mb of memory.

I believe 256Mb of memory is what Microsoft suggest for Aero.

And remember you need a Vista driver for any graphics card you buy which
these old ones may not have.

I think you may be out of luck on that Dell box.

Maybe time to get a new system unit built for you by a company like Novatech
with standard parts (unlike Dell), then in the future you will be able to
upgrade easier.

Here is a list of ATI cards that support Vista

http://ati.amd.com/technology/WindowsVista/Products.html

Here is a list of nvidia cards that support Vista

http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_vista_home.html

 

[Diane K]

Thanks Guilbert. I appreciate your input. I'm very well versed on most
software but hardware is certainly not my nitch. Would you do me one more
favor and check this out from Tiger Direct? It looks like it might meet the
specs, but I'd appreciate your input.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2802675&CatId=1603

 

[Guest]

One thing to watch is the "Low Profile" business. The link is for such a
card. If your machine is a "regular" sized desktop, then you need to avoid
the "Low Profile" cards. These are for "thinner" desktops. The mounting
bracket for the "Low Profile" cards are shorter than the bracket for a
regular card. The shorter braket would prvent you from seating the card
properly. Usually, if you run across a "Low Profile" card, that manufacture
has the same card available in regular size. The regular size is the most
common, and to increase sales, they will often supply a "low profile"
version. The cards are the same, it is just the mounting bracket that differs.

I noticed a couple of response about since you have an on-board graphic you
do not "...blah, blah". I do not know about Dell, but one of the other
machines I have is an HP with onboard graphics, but it also has an PCI-e slot
- I have a PCI-e video card in that slot and it works. Again Dell may differ
from HP.

I would recommend you post your model number. No insult intended, but I
beleive you are un-familiar with some of the hardware terminology and
capabilities. If you will post the model number, then someone could look it
up on the Dell site and find out just which type of video card would work. If
you have an APG slot, then you would be better off using an AGP card. Prices
are approximately the same for comparable cards. The pecking order is PCI >
AGP > PCI-E. You would want to get the highest level that is suitable for you
machine.

 

[Diane K]

Thanks HighNoon.
Thank you. No insult at all taken! I am very unfamiliar with some hardware
terminology. My PC is a Dimension 8110 and is not quite a year old. Dell is
the one who told me the video was on the motherboard and that I don't have
any AGP slots available.

-
Thanks,
Diane

 

[Diane K]

PS: The link I posted earlier was from when I went to Tigerdirect.com and
searched for PCI video cards. They have 7 models listed at 256MB or more.

 

[BSchnur]

Thank you. No insult at all taken! I am very unfamiliar with some hardware

terminology. My PC is a Dimension 8110 and is not quite a year old. Dell is
the one who told me the video was on the motherboard and that I don't have
any AGP slots available.

Interesting -- I don't see the 8110 listed at Dell, but the Dimension
8100 documentation indicates that it has an AGP slot which supports AGP
4x. For something like this, you could get a Radeon 9250. Then again,
I could hope this isn't a match to the 8100 as the memory supported on
the motherboard is RIMM...

 

[CybrGuy]

Diane, there is NO Dimension 8110. You either mean a Dimension B110
(letter B) or a Dimension 8100. The 8100 is an older (maybe 3 or 4
years) high end box, and the B110 is a newer low end box. I don't think
either is well suited for Vista, although either might run it (slowly).
Rather than spending $150 on a graphics card I might consider a box
more suited to Vista, or just use it with the current graphics. Sorry.

 

[Mike G]

Can't recommend the 9250 as it is the one I have also and have been
searching for a new card also. The 9250 is DirectX8, when you need Direct
X9.

 

[Diane K]

You're right. Sorry - it's my over "50" eyes! It is a B110. I'm a technical
writer and I bought this machine about 8 or 9 months ago for screen shots. I
have Vista ultimate on it now and it runs just great. My only problem is
that I can't get the Aero function. Looks like I'll just have to live with
it. Thanks, everyone, for all your advice.

Diane

 

[BSchnur]

Can't recommend the 9250 as it is the one I have also and have been

searching for a new card also. The 9250 is DirectX8, when you need Direct
X9.

Hmm, I've seen specs indicating 9250 cards supporting DirectX9 (it will
work with DirectX8 as well).

But you have a point -- the 9600 is not that expensive these days -- a
9600Pro with 256M of RAM can be purchased for about $60.

 

[BSchnur]

Good guess -- you're right, while the B110 certainly supports an
adequate CPU and memory for Vista, the lack of AGP support makes for a
mismatch.

Personally, a system that can support 2G of memory and a P4 3.2G
processor should REALLY include an AGP slot...

 

[CybrGuy]

The B110 is plenty powerful for ANY writing you might do, including
illustrations and technical drawings. It's just the Aero graphics that
are more demanding than your box was intended to support. You didn't
mention how much system RAM you have. If you intend to stay with Vista
I recommend you bump your RAM up to 1 GB or more. If your video borrows
system RAM, you might get closer to Aero's demands. Even if not, it
will still speed up Vista some.

 

[Guest]

PS: The link I posted earlier was from when I went to Tigerdirect.com and
searched for PCI video cards. They have 7 models listed at 256MB or more.

 

[Guest]

Can someone recommend a specific video card for me? My system is running
Vista Ultimate OK except I can't get Aero without updating my video card.
Dell tells me my video card is built into the motherboard and I don't have
any AGP slots available so I guess I need a PCI card.

I've been told I need to disable the video card on my motherboard when I
install the PCI card. Is that correct? If so, how do I do that? I'm sorry to
sound so dumb, but I'm really a novice on the graphics end of things.

TIA

dont feel dumb! computers are dumb, you have to tell them EVERYTHING!
go to control panel (from start). double click the "system" icon. click
device manager, you'll see display adapters. mine was intel
^@6;@$^:46@:$%6@$:^
blah blah blah. click that and disable it. shut down pc.
UNPLUG!! then open case, install video card. power up and after welcome
screen etc, you'll see a screen, "found new hardware." load cd (or floppy,
whatever) that came with video card and load software. reboot and all will be
well. it's a no brainer, i'm not very good with this stuff but it's pretty
foolproof. make sure you push the video card hard enough into the slot so it
sits ok. dont use a hammer or anything but make sure it sits well, you'll
feel it kinda snap into place.